Plan and Design Together – Just a Vision?

Landscape visualization is a representation of the real world that can be displayed as 3D simulations with various levels of realism (Schroth, 2010). Landscape visualization may demonstrate past, present conditions or future scenarios (Lewis et al., 2005). Therefore, it can be said that landscape visualization gives a chance to display scenes that are non-existent (e.g. current state visualization of altered land use, possible future design scenarios). It can be represented as static, animated or interactive scenes (Sheppard and Salter, 2004) and immersive or outside of the context (Danahy, 2001; Bishop and Lange, 2005). Human perception towards to 3D visualizations has been studied in recent years by comparing visualization and its effectiveness (Campbell and Salter, 2004; Lange, 1994; Zube et al. 1987). According to comparisons made between visualizations and realism, computer generated environments still need to be developed in order to demonstrate the high degree of realism (Bishop and Rohrmann, 2003). There have been studies investigating various degrees of realism depicted in images, especially in regard to vegetation and moving objects within the virtual environment. However, further study is required for future projects to improve the degrees of realism, raise awareness and stimulate public participation. In the field of landscape architecture, virtual reality and internet-based landscape visualization technologies (Lange, 2001) and public participation during the decision- making and design process (Saleh and Nassar, 2011) gained rising recognition over the last decade. Development in 3D landscape visualization, now, allows using mobile devices as a valuable tool in landscape design, planning and management (Lange, 2011). There is a possibility that mobile devices can be the standard method for planning and design processes (Lange, 2011). This paper focuses on the use of interactive 3D visualisation of an urban park to enhance public participation during the planning and decision-making process using mobile devices. The work presented in this paper is part of the EU Project Value+ a collaborative INTERREG IVB project. Unique to the kind of project, the research is linked to a real world investment site. Edward Street Park in the city centre of Sheffield is one of the investment sites in the INTERREG project

Combining a participatory planning approach with a virtual landscape model for the siting of wind turbines

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich is planning to build three wind turbines for the production of renewable energy. Their proposed location is near the campus of ETH Honggerberg in the Kaferberg open space. This open space is of high importance for the recreation of the local residents. It is one of the last open spaces in Zurich that is used agriculturally. In order to provide a broad forum for discussion and to examine the level of acceptance of the proposed wind turbines a new approach to participatory planning is pursued by introducing a virtual landscape model to a participatory planning workshop for which the different interest groups and stakeholders were invited. During the workshop different alternatives were discussed and suggested changes by the participants were incorporated in the 3D model and visualized. The results of the workshop show that 3D visualization is an important means of communication among the different interest groups. The workshop also shows that an early integration of 3D visualization combined with a participatory approach is an effective way to elucidate potential conflicts at an early stage of the planning process.